Never Satisfied: Stockton native Townsend nominated for ESPY

Thursday

Jun 29, 2017 at 12:01 AMJun 29, 2017 at 9:57 PM

Thomas Lawrence Record Correspondent

STOCKTON – Roderick Townsend felt over-heated and under-fed.

So the world record-holding track and field athlete had tunnel vision driving to his friend's house after a brutal workout at Delta College last week, during the area's worst heat wave in more than a decade.

Townsend, a double Paralympic gold medalist in the men’s long jump and high jump, wanted to replenish those calories he'd burned.

“I wanted to go and get something really unhealthy to eat. I don’t care about anything right now,” said Townsend, vividly recalling the torture of exercising in the 110-degree heat. “I don’t care about breaking my diet.”

Before Townsend could gorge on junk food, he noticed that he'd received an email from his agent. Townsend, a native Stocktonian and former Lincoln High and Delta College athlete, discovered that he'd been nominated for an ESPY Award for Best Male Athlete with a Disability.

“And I said, well, how about I go get some chicken instead," Townsend said.

Townsend was overwhelmed by his nomination, earned by winning the long jump at 7.41 meters and high jump at 2.09 meters at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“It’s nice to see that people are watching and paying attention. Track isn’t the most lavish sport. Any time I get some type of recognition, it’s always appreciated,” Townsend said on Thursday. “It’s not easy."

Townsend, who will turn 25 on Saturday, sustained permanent nerve damage to his right arm at birth. He has a limited range of motion and his muscles aren't fully developed in that arm.

“The umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck. They had to dislocate my shoulder and break my collarbone,” Townsend told The Record last summer.

In 2015, after he'd battled able-bodied athletes throughout his life, Townsend (who's a lean and muscular 6-foot-7, 210 pounds) was classified as a Paralympic athlete.

Lesser athletes would consider his successes of the past two years (including two gold medals at the 2015 Parapan American Games) a career pinnacle.

Not Townsend.

Instead, he’s been maniacal in his training. He said his winning high jump mark in Rio is now what he opens with.

“Roderick is the perfect example of the saying, ‘You get out what you put in,’” Delta track coach Lauryn Jordan-Seales told The Record in 2012.

Townsend can prove his progress at the World Para Athletics Championships, which begin July 14 in London. The former Lincoln football player, who was teammates with New England Patriots receiver Brandin Cooks, will compete in the high jump, long jump, 100-meter dash and 400 relay.

Townsend flies to London on July 10.

“I’ve only been doing Paralympics for two years, and I’m nowhere near my ceiling,” said Townsend, who set two world records in earning those golds at the Parapan American Games “I don’t feel like I’m in a rush.”

Townsend cited 41-year-old Kim Collins, a men’s sprinter from Saint Kitts and Nevis, as an inspiration. Last summer, Collins, who began his career at 18, competed in his fifth Olympics at 40 as the oldest sprinter present.

Townsend (whose Twitter handle is, appropriately, @TheJumpAddict) is so focused on London, that he keeps spacing on his upcoming birthday.

He’s thankful to his friend Taylor Mullin for letting Townsend stay at his house this past week. While he’s home, Townsend finds time for cheat meals and nostalgia at David’s Pizza and Arroyo’s Mexican Café in-between visiting family and friends.

Townsend lives in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he's entering his third season as a track and field coach at Northern Arizona University.

While he's enamored with thoughts of the ESPYs, he won’t be able to attend. The ceremony, which will be hosted by Peyton Manning, is July 12 in Los Angeles.

This pains Townsend, but he never debated leaving for London late.

“Just letting everybody know, the reason I’m not going this year is to make sure I'm nominated for next year,” Townsend said. At which point, he plans on making a grand appearance.

“I’ve got to put on Versace, and put on for Lincoln High and Delta College.”

— Contact reporter Thomas Lawrence at (209) 546-8272 or tlawrence@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/sportsblog and on Twitter @RecordPreps

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